California Dreamin' Part 3 - Humphrey's, San Diego

Sunday morning. It was nice waking up in a big cozy bed in LA, though a little strange having all this space to myself. Usually there's a little place for me, my husband and maybe a couple of cats. Being able to stretch out in the middle of the bed was a luxury. I had time to make use of the hotel gym (very nice and new) and have breakfast.  Not rushed at all, but I was ready for the drive to San Diego and very much looking forward to seeing Craig at Humphrey's that evening.
The drive was uneventful until I reached a point where I could see the Pacific Ocean. From then on, until I reached my destination, I kept having moments where I wanted to take a little side trip to the beach!  All the beautiful scenery spread out in front of me made the rest of the drive go quickly. 

Then I started seeing signs for San Diego exits. I needed to find the one for Shelter Island. When I did, I was glad I had chosen to stay on the main road. This was exactly where I wanted to be.  It may have had something to do with Humphrey's by the Bay.  Humphrey's Half Moon Inn & Suites is the hotel name. I won't post an ad for it here, but Google it. It's heavenly! http://twitpic.com/9i8mrg  http://twitpic.com/9i8mai http://twitpic.com/9i8oq9 http://twitpic.com/9i8nzx 

When I checked in, guess who was at the front desk? http://twitpic.com/9it4ik There's a greeting! I found I had been upgraded to a junior suite. When I located my room, I discovered the view from my door. http://twitpic.com/9it4ik Oh come on, really? I couldn't stop giggling at the whole situation. I'm not really much of a stalker, more of a lover of adventure letting one of my favorite people lead the way. Sorry, Craig, I'll try to do better. Just kidding! :D  --- But I this was just too perfect. I settled into this beautiful suite and set up the computer to send some pics. http://twitpic.com/9iykj5 http://twitpic.com/9iykj5 (Could I live here, please?) I had a 6PM dinner reservation at the hotel restaurant, and plenty of time to get there. So I wandered around the property, falling more in love with this little paradise at every turn.

At 6PM, I arrived at Humphrey's casually elegant restaurant, with a large abstract bird sculpture hanging from the ceiling (like Brancusi, maybe Calder?), and full view of the marina. Sitting comfortably at a table on one side, I could enjoy the ambience with a little privacy. I tweeted about a sailboat flying the skull & crossbones (Aarrgh, there be pirates here!). I wondered how many boat owners would be watching Craig from their decks that night. 

Dinner was from a special prix fixe menu. It was delicious, including a salmon dish with vegetables and a sauce that had bacon in it. Gourmet comfort food! I was enjoying this so much that I broke my diet and ate the dessert. Thank you, Chef Murphy!

After dinner, I still had an hour to relax before the show. There was a concession selling Humphrey's logo items and I found a pink t-shirt I liked. It took so long to pay that I lost my chance to meet another skelly, @bd_sd, who visited my seat but didn't find me. Rats.(I'll be back!) I did enjoy watching people arrive and took some more pictures as the sun was setting. http://twitpic.com/9i8n5z http://twitpic.com/9iy7e8 http://twitpic.com/9iy72h http://twitpic.com/9iy8gr

Almost showtime! I took my seat, front row, stage left. The audience was friendly. I had a conversation with the people sitting behind me. One couple was from Florida, and the husband had gone to the University of Tampa! Ted came on and did a great set. It was a good crowd in a partying mood.  Performing on a stage outside on a cool, fresh evening with the boats swaying in the marina nearby has to be pretty sweet.  It was time for Craig. He was all smiles walking onstage. He talked about the pirates in the marina and the beautiful surroundings, and wondered aloud how the audience on the boats might behave that night. (He's been here before. :D) Craig did a fantastic job. The audience was very happy. Just before the end, the lady behind me got up to go to the bathroom. Craig suggested we should all hide while she was gone. We liked the idea! When he reached the end of the show Craig looked over at us and asked "Did that lady ever come back?" She had sneaked in and was in a different spot behind me. Craig spotted her. "Oh I see you like to change it up... I like that!"  When Craig was ready to leave, he made his way towards stage left. He said something like "A lot of you are parked out front here. My car's out there too. I was gonna tell you this one thing..." and he dropped the mic and ran offstage. A very playful, delightful evening!

California Dreamin' Part 2 - Lancaster and Seats on The Stage

Cut to the Saturday flight to LA on Southwest. http://twitpic.com/9fxx4k  If you've flown Southwest, you may have been entertained by the flight attendants.  Sometimes they turn the safety talk into standup, sometimes they sing. Our flight from the stopover in Denver was great! The whole cabin was cracking up from the pre-flight talk, then Willie Nelson "On the Road Again" came over the speakers. When we landed in LA, they played "California Dreamin'!" Perfect. lol 

I picked up my rental car and headed bravely for the 405.  The plan was to check into the hotel, then drive to Lancaster and go straight to the theater. When I arrived in Beverly Hills (don't judge me - it's 10 minutes from CBS!), I already felt pressed for time. The hotel had upgraded me and made me their random guest of the day. This happened at the same chain in Ft. Myers when I did Craig's Florida tour back in November! Feeling pampered again and ready for the drive to Lancaster, I headed out for an early evening drive into the hills.

Hills! I've been living in Florida for eight years now, where the only high places are in buildings or on highway overpasses. Even with traffic this was a lovely drive. Unfortunately my GPS had died and I was trying to make it there on time. So I called the theater.  A very nice person at LPAC gave me easy directions and I was there quickly. Parking nearby, I passed Craig's red and white tour bus. I had a first row seat for the show. As I walked into the theater, I was told that the first two rows were not ready yet. When I looked up I saw two rows of chairs on the stage! Close enough?! They did lower them so that they became the 'orchestra pit.' They sent us for a free drink while we waited. 

I settled into my front row seat and enjoyed the music. I noticed a change to some familiar songs that I later recognized as the music set leading up to the show, artists including Iggy Pop and Ian Dury. Some punk rock attitude to set the mood - oh yeah! This was just what I needed after a long day of flying and driving.  Ted Alexandro was the opening act for Craig on this tour, and a had a very strong set, with unique timing that I really enjoyed. I had been hearing great things about Ted from friends who had seen him, and he did not disappoint. Very funny and original! 

Then it was time for Craig to take the stage.  He announced himself, then walked on to a roar of applause and cheers. Being in the front of the theater for these shows gave me the opportunity to feel the reaction of the crowd, so even though I was part of it, I found myself soaking in the appreciation of the audience and enjoying the show from a slightly different perspective, like a proud parent, or skelly. :)  Craig looked healthy and rested, sporting a nice blue t-shirt (long-sleeved?) under a suit jacket with jeans and boots. No suits on this road trip, at least none that I saw! "It's a great day for America!" We were on our way. There's no denying the energy and enthusiasm of this man; he just sweeps you up and takes you along. I was completely re-energized right away. I know this show very well by now but hadn't seen Craig live since November in Florida. Of course there was some local talk at the beginning, but there were more changes along the way as well. As consistently good as Craig's basic material for this show is, he continues to massage it and play with a bit every night. So of course there were some surprises. I've seen Craig say he can't imagine why anyone would want to see the same show more than once. Well, in his case, it's never the same show! I do believe I saw a glance or two come my way that evening. I was just happy to be spending my first hours in California seeing Craig live. The rest of the day melted away.

When the show was over, I headed for my car, stopping along the way with other fans to wave at the tour bus as it pulled out of the parking lot.  Wondering where the guys would have dinner, I realized I hadn't had food since peanuts on the plane. I grabbed what seemed like an enormous burrito at El Pollo Loco and then made my way back to the hotel in Beverly Hills, feeling very content.

California Dreamin' Part 1 - Getting There

If you should randomly discover this blog, I should preface it with an explanation. A lot of this is going to be about Craig Ferguson and is written with all my fellow Robot Skeletons in mind. :-)

It's been over twenty years since I've visited California, and my brother. It's not like I don't love the place. When I was in my twenties I lived in San Francisco and LA and in a little town north of LA called Frazier Park. I was born in LA, then made the cross-country trip to Louisville (Louavull) when I was still a baby. My Dad has told me stories about growing up in La Crescenta and the Hollywood Hills my whole life.  In high school I wanted to go to USC or UCLA. My high school yearbook song was California Dreamin'! - So of course seeing Craig Ferguson sing it, with the harmonies, in The Big Tease is a funny and really sweet moment for me. I had been hoping for some inspiration, something or someone to give me a little push to make this trip. It all started with a tweet on January 7th...

Craig Ferguson ‏ @CraigyFerg

“@Freundlydude: My goal this year is to have @BenFolds@IamStevenT or @CraigyFerg to RT one of my tweets #goals” Jeez. Aim higher.

I had a response to that, even though it was not directed at me...

Nancy Herman ‏ @NancyinTampa

@CraigyFerg Good afternoon!2012 goal-time to visit brother in Sonoma & attend a LLS taping.Dream- west coast standup show too!#toohigh ? :)

Then things started to happen. One month later, new standup dates were announced. And there it was - the Uptown Theatre in Napa - 20 minutes from my brother's house! All the components were there - visit my brother, see Craig live, then drive to LA for a Late Late Show taping.  I was already thanking Craig for making this the perfect California visit!

Thanks to Craig joining Twitter and creating his Robot Skeleton Army, I have made some great friends. As soon as the Napa show was announced, I heard from Melody (@cozyhobo),  who lives nearby in Novato.  She offered to drive over to the Uptown Theatre and purchase a membership so that we could later find good seats for the show. We could split the cost and it would be totally worth it. This is not unusual for the #RSA! We hadn't even met yet and this is what we were doing. When the tickets became available, the seats Melody came up with were second row center! Off to an amazing start, not really expecting any more than that. When tickets opened up to the general public on Valentine's Day, I was online right away and bought fourth row seats for my brother and sister-in-law.  After learning more about the Uptown Theatre, I was really looking forward to the whole experience. It is a beautiful place.
http://twitpic.com/9hvrzt

I knew when I started this that I had to fill some time between arriving in LA and leaving the day after the LLS taping. I would have a few days with my family, but they had to work while I was playing tourist. I also wanted to see friends if I could manage it. When the San Diego and San Luis Obispo shows were announced I hoped to meet with #RSA friends @Diane4mail and @sarieswick. I started filling up the days with Craig's standup shows, and my visit blossomed into a full tour of California! Eventually this became the plan:

4-21-Arrive Saturday afternoon in LA, check into hotel, drive to Lancaster. See Craig the first night in California. (I really liked that!:))
4-22- Back in LA, leave for San Diego. Arrive mid-afternoon, have dinner and then see Craig at Humphrey's. Stay at Humphrey's.
4-23 - Free day. Spend it in Santa Barbara.
4-24- Drive to hotel in Pismo Beach. Join Diane and Sara for dinner at the Apple Farm in SLO, then see Craig at Harmon Hall.
4-25- Drive to Napa, check into hotel, meet brother, sister-in-law and Melody for dinner, then see Craig at the Uptown Theatre.
4-26 & 27 - Tour northern California, visit friends and family.
4-28 - Drive to San Francisco, dinner with family
4-29 Drive back to LA.
4-30 Go to Late Late Show taping.
5-1 Fly back to Tampa.

That seemed like plenty! But there was one more thing. Eric Idle appeared on Craig's show and talked about his production of "What About Dick?", scheduled to be at the Orpheum in LA April 26-29.  The cast was beyond anyone's wildest dreams! Eric, Eddie Izzard, Billy Connolly, Russell Brand, Tim Curry, Tracey Ullman, Jane Leeves, Jim Piddick and Sophie Winkleman. So Sunday night suddenly had a destination.

Craig On The Road - The Florida Tour: The Real Hollywood

It's the last night of Craig's Florida tour and I need to get to the Hard Rock now!!
My #RSA friend Janis directed me on the phone as I made my way to through the party palace on 441 in Hollywood to the entrance of the Hard Rock Live. She was telling me how she managed to find her way to the meet & greet and was waiting with others at the end of a hallway. I didn't know what to say! I was excited, but then I tend to play by the rules, so I was worried. Would I be in trouble for showing up here? I've spent a lot of time backstage at events, from hosting meet & greets as part of my radio job to just hanging out with friends who are performers. A pre-show meet & greet is different, not necessarily the most comfortable thing to do just before you take the stage.  All these people were getting in because they were high rollers or contest winners. I was none of these things.
Suddenly there was no more time to think. We were in, and Craig was standing in front of a wall with Hard Rock logos all over it. This would be photos only, taken by the Hard Rock photographer (to be picked up next week). Janis stepped up first. Then it was my turn. I mumbled something like "sorry you got roped into this."  And then thought, wait! no! Feeling very much like Ralphie scrambling back up the slide in "A Christmas Story" I managed to get out my Twitter name and said was writing about the tour for RSA News. Craig couldn't have been more gracious or his blue eyes more...lovely. Sorry, it had to be said. :) A smile, a handshake, and a moment that made this weekend even more perfect. Many thanks to Janis for making this happen! And to Craig for being so kind. x
The Hard Rock crowd was large, late, and a bit unruly, but Joe and Craig made it work for them   Joe Matarese came out to do his set and did a great job.  The audience was still rolling in, so there were moments when people walking through the aisles and rows got in the way. I'm not used to this, but Joe soldiered on and was,once again, very funny.
Then Craig introduced himself and took the stage. Tonight's outfit, a black shirt with suit jacket and jeans. Very nice! He was doing great, fine-tuning the phrasing on some of the bits, playing with the audience, getting some very big laughs. I really didn't want this show to end. Then the panties hit the stage. Yep. Even from my vantage point, halfway back in the house, they looked kind of gnarly. I wouldn't have picked them up with a stick! Pass the Purell? The crowd got even crazier after that. It was a real juggling act, but Craig played with them all - the Scots to his right, the Canadians to his left, and the underwear lady - for awhile longer, and then moved on to his finish. I didn't want to see him go, but it was time.
And that's it! Three days in Florida, a different show every night. Craig gave us his best, and we were lucky to have him here again for awhile. I hope he enjoyed his stay. I loved doing this. Thanks to RSA News! And I can't thank you enough, Craig! Looking forward to the next adventure. ♥ #RSAForever

Craig On The Road - The Florida Tour, Part deux

I remember Ft. Myers from years ago when we used to travel across Alligator Alley for a weekend away from our crazy life in Ft. Lauderdale. And here I was, day 2 of Craig's Florida tour, driving from Tallahassee to make this 8PM show in a neighborhood that looks somewhat familiar. Getting a feel for life on the road. It's great to be at (your venue's name) (in your region). :)
Craig stayed on the beach in Naples. I know that place, it's really sweet. Did you see the photos? I stayed five minutes from the Barbara Mann. And my hotel was very cool. With a random upgrade to the private floor, I felt pampered. But all concentration was on getting to the show.
Once I arrived at the Mann, it was already time to take my seat. I met people at the hotel who were in town just to see Craig. Those people were there, but there was were plenty of locals too. John Patrick from WZVN-TV posted some great pics! https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.325082414173675.98636.220565714625346&type=3  And there were some older people who were surprised that Craig didn't have a little "tootsiefrootsie" pop up in front of his face when he said a curse word. I wish I'd had that "warning" flyer from the high school show in Bucks County. Really.
One of the things I loved most about this evening was the very beginning, before Craig's opening act Joe Matarese came out. No spoilers because there's a show tonight.   Joe was hilarious! I saw him in Red Bank. He is very funny, a really nice guy, and he has a CD out. http://twitpic.com/7h2pxo Check him out here - http://joematarese.com
Then it was time for Craig, dressed in a fresh white shirt, suit jacket and jeans, looking relaxed (like he'd been at the beach!). This was his night. The night before had been so much about the FSU event. Tonight there was time for more of the material I've come to know and love. The crowd was enthusiastic with plenty of whistles and outbursts (positive ones).  The one person I couldn't see or hear from my 6th row seat was down in front and seemed to have a running commentary on everything Craig said. He used great restraint in not really going after her. In spite of the distraction, Craig put on a fantastic show, even getting to the family stories. ♥ Kudos to Craig for great concentration and a standing-O worthy show!
I met Joe Matarese in the lobby after the show, bought his CD, talked with him a bit. Then he had to run for the bus. Craig and the tour bus bring back great memories of last year in Florida. I waved to them as they drove away. One more night! The Hard Rock. Will I get to say hello to the Chief before this is all over? Wish me luck!

Craig On The Road - The Florida Tour, Part 1

There's only one person who can make me drive all over the state of Florida and still feel like I'm having a relaxing weekEND. When Craig's Florida standup dates were announced, I knew I would make good on my promise to see all of them. When the FSU Pow Wow was added to the mix, I wondered if I was even allowed to go! Not an alum, though I do have plenty of friends who are. So that's my excuse. :)
Tallahassee is a beautiful place, capitol of the state and home of the Florida State Seminoles. When I found the Civic Center, I was surprised that even with GA tickets I found a seat in the 5th row! (Going on my own made it a little easier I think.) The crowd waiting to get in was huge. Not sure how many were there, but most of the 13,800 seats filled up quickly.  The Homecoming entertainment was fantastic! An excellent jazz band, followed by singing groups and dance troupes and videos, nonstop for at least 90 minutes. During this, Craig was tweeting from backstage.  I don't think I've ever seen so much activity on Twitter for a live show! Check the stream and you'll see all of Craig's retweets and responses. BTW during all this, I kept seeing a gentlemen in a kilt walking around. Hmm...
Finally, after an intermission, Craig's opening act, a very entertaining comedian who's name I don't have (help?lol) came out and did a great job. Former theater major at FSU, worked as Goofy at Disneyworld, how do I know all about him and not his name?!
Then it was time for Craig. Then I found out why the kilted guy. A full band of bagpipers came out playing the FSU fight song, and then Craig, tomahawking his way onto the stage wearing an FSU jersey, jeans and  black,red and white sneakers. Perfect! And he danced with the music! The big screen at the back of the stage projected all this wonderfulness to the cheering crowd.
Since I know the basics of this show well (5 times in Denver, then Chicago, Bucks County and Red Bank), I have a different take on it. I enjoy watching Craig figure out the audience. And a college crowd at homecoming is different! He included the marching band (sitting upper deck stage right)  and changed things up for the partying college crowd, getting in the Seminole spirit of things. It was the master at work. And FSU loved him! It was very cool that he took a picture of the audience. Like a family photo. The perfect end to a memorable evening.